Dawn Roma French (born 11 October 1957) is an English actress, writer, and comedian, best known for starring in and writing for the comedy sketch show French and Saunders with comedy partner Jennifer Saunders and for playing the lead role as Geraldine Granger in the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley. French has been nominated for seven BAFTA Awards and also won a Fellowship BAFTA with Jennifer Saunders.

Biography

French met Lenny Henry on the alternative comedy circuit. The couple married on 20 October 1984 in Covent Garden, London. They adopted a daughter, Billie. French has stated that Billie has always known that she was adopted, but once took out an injunction when a biographer came close to revealing the identity of Billie's biological mother. When faced with a question about how she and Henry would feel if Billie wanted to find out about her birth mother, French commented, "Whatever she wants to do when she's 18, we'll support her. What I do worry about is anyone else making the decision for her."

The couple owned property in Fowey, Cornwall. The £2.3-million mansion with 40 rooms overlooks Readymoney Cove and neighbouring Poldridmouth Cove, known as smugglers' cove. The grade II-listed building dates back to the 19th century.

French is a supporter of the Labour Party.

On 6 April 2010, French and Henry announced they were separating after 25 years of marriage. It was reported that the separation was amicable. They had decided to separate in October the previous year but left it until then as they were still in discussion over the separation. Their divorce was finalised in 2010.

French began dating charity worker Mark Bignell in 2011. On 22 April 2013 it was reported that they had just married.

In September 2014 French was named as the new Chancellor of Falmouth University.

, 1h33OriginGermanGenresComedy, Fantasy, AnimationThemesFilms about animals, Films about lions, Films about birds, Mise en scène d'une tortue, Children's films, Mise en scène d'un mammifère, Suricate, ReptileActorsStephen Fry, Jim Broadbent, James Corden, Thomas Fritsch, Vanessa Redgrave, Jason DonovanRoles AngieRating48% The film is set in Africa's Okavango Delta, and the main characters are a meerkat named Billy and a lion named Socrates. The annual flood has failed to arrive in the Delta, water has become scarce and the native animals fiercely fight over it. Billy and Socrates set out to find more water, and during their quest they meet a rag-tag group of animals from across the world: a polar bear named Sushi, a kangaroo named Toby, a Tasmanian devil named Smiley, two Galápagos tortoises named Winifred and Winston, a rooster named Charles, and a chimpanzee named Toto, all of whom have had their lives ruined by humans in some way and have travelled to Africa. The animals soon discover the reason for the lack of water in the Delta: a dam has been constructed to supply energy for a luxury resort owned by a man named Mr. Smith. Hunter, a poacher, kidnaps Socrates, while the other animals escape. The animals hold a conference where Winifred and Winston explain the deadly future that could be possible for animals. After the conference, however, Winifred and Winston pass away. That day, Billy and the other animals travel through the "Valley of Death" towards the dam. Hunter spots the animals and tries to stop them with a bi-plane, but is stopped by Toto. Maya, Mr. Smith's daughter, frees Socrates from his cage, and sends Hunter down a chute. Down at the bottom of the dam, the buffaloes and rhinos, including Chino and Biggie, charge into the dam. Billy hits a rock into a chute in the dam, which ignites a missile from Hunter's bi-plane, which destroys the dam, and frees the water. To celebrate the water coming back, they have a party. After the party, the animals travel to New York City, where the movie ends with the animals walking through the city with whales calling in the background.

, 1h44Directed byHugh Laurie, Ben EltonOriginUnited-kingdomGenresThriller, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Romantic comedy, RomanceActorsHugh Laurie, Joely Richardson, Matthew Macfadyen, Adrian Lester, Joanna Lumley, Emma ThompsonRoles CharleneRating56% Sam Bell (Laurie) and wife Lucy (Richardson) are a married couple struggling for a baby, having tried everything they can think of to improve their chances of conceiving. At the same time, Sam begins to find his job (as a commissioning editor of drama at the BBC) increasingly unfulfilling. While he resolves to write his own screenplay, he begins to suffer writer's block. The idea dawns upon him to write about his own predicament, something to which Lucy objects strongly. He uses her diary entries to help him achieve authenticity, and the film is a success. Lucy finds out about the film and, shocked, leaves Sam. Eventually they reconcile and at the end of the story are still trying for a baby.

, 1h36Directed bySteve BarronOriginUSAGenresScience fiction, Fantasy, AnimationThemesFilms about children, Jeu, Films about magic and magicians, Prison films, Adaptations de Pinocchio, Films about toys, Children's filmsActorsJonathan Taylor Thomas, Martin Landau, Geneviève Bujold, Udo Kier, Bebe Neuwirth, Rob SchneiderRoles Baker's WifeRating52% Mister Geppetto (Martin Landau) is an earnest woodcutter. Years ago, he carved the image of his heart into a pine tree for his secret love Leona (Geneviève Bujold), but lightning hit the pine tree. A few years later, Geppetto finds the pine tree again, but it splits in half and rolls down the bank, landing at his feet. Geppetto is intrigued upon his discovery and takes the log home. He discovers that the pine log refuses to be burned, and so he decides to carve the new puppet with it. His puppet named Pinocchio (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) is soon mysteriously animated by a somewhat sentient force after his creation. Pinocchio approaches the woodcutter, initially alarming him. After a chase throughout the town, Geppetto finally finds Pinocchio and starts teaching him about how to behave. While wandering through town, Pinocchio becomes involved with two thieves Volpe and Felinet (Rob Schneider and Bebe Neuwirth) who attempt to flatter Pinocchio. Geppetto comes to the rescue by getting Pinocchio away from Volpe and Felinet and warns Pinocchio to mix with the right people. Volpe and Felinet go to the puppet master Lorenzini (Udo Kier) who owns a luxurious puppet theatre. Felinet tells him about Pinocchio, and Lorenzini appears interested, so he visits Geppetto that afternoon to barter for Pinocchio. However, although Pinocchio is somewhat taken to Lorenzini, Geppetto refuses to sell Pinocchio and instead sells some of his own marionettes.

Directed byPeter RichardsonActorsNigel Planer, Ade Edmondson, Peter Richardson, Dawn French, Robbie Coltrane, Jennifer SaundersRating70% The story revolves around Stan (Planer), a lonely and not-very-intelligent Midlands security van driver and ham radio enthusiast who strikes up a long distance romance with Frances (French), an ornithologist on expedition to the Falklands with Kathy (Saunders), a lazier woman she detests immensely. One night while trying to contact her, Stan hears the sounds of a violent altercation and becomes convinced that the island is under attack and that Frances' life is in danger.

, 1h30Directed byPeter RichardsonGenresComedy, Action, CrimeActorsKevin Allen, Ronald Allen, Kathy Burke, Robbie Coltrane, Miranda Richardson, Nigel PlanerRoles Debbie DrawsRating61% The film begins in a high-class London restaurant named 'Bastards', staffed by the protagonist, waiter Alex (Alan Pellay). Alex is subject to the daily contempt and disgust of the upper-class customers, and is eventually fired for being obnoxious and rude to the clientele. After witnessing an act of terrorism on an embassy, he robs a benefits office and goes on the run with his new friend.